NEXTGEN: John Mulvihill

Next Generation | Rider

Name: John Mulvihill

Age: 23

Area:  Listowel, Co. Kerry

John Mulvihill is the latest rider to feature in our Next Generation feature following his first career success aboard Drawn N Drank in the Open for Novice riders at Bandon on Saturday for Eugene O’Sullivan.

A native of Listowel, John Mulvihill began race-riding with a Conditional Jockey's license with 47 rides under rules in Ireland largely for Charles Byrnes. It was the Co. Limerick trainer that supplied him with his first winner in the form of Hareth at Limerick in April 2017.

Mulvihill took out a qualified riders license last year and had his first ride in a point-to-point aboard Brynmawr for Turlough O'Connor at Dromahane in December 2019.




Are you from a racing background?

No none of my family are involved in racing. My older sister was into hunting and showjumping, she is the only other one in my family that would be interested in horses.

I started off riding ponies, I hunted with the Loughrea Harriers a good bit as a child and I also did a bit of show jumping.

My friend Patrick O’ Sullivan got me into Pony Racing then when I was a teenager, I rode over 10 winners when riding on the pony racing circuit.

How did you get started in Racing?

When I was about 16, I went to RACE and completed a course for ten months during that time I had a placement in Michael Grassick’s yard.

After I finished the course at RACE I started riding out for Christy Roche and that’s where I really got going.

Who have you ridden out for to date?

I rode out for Christy after I finished in RACE and that’s when I took out my licence, I had my first two or three rides for him on JP McManus-owned horses, so that was great!

I got a fall in Naas a little while after that and was out for a while, when I came back Christy sent me to Ballydoyle for six months to gain a little bit more experience.

After Ballydole I moved onto ride out for Eddie Linehan and Eugene O’Sullivan where I used to split my time between both yards.

I also went over to England about three years ago and rode out for David O Meara for about ten months. The plan was to ride on the flat but unfortunately, my weight became an issue, so that never worked out.

When I came back from England I started riding out for Charles Byrnes and spent two years with him.

Where are you based at the moment?

I am currently based with Turlough O’Connor down in Co. Cork, I started riding out for him just before Christmas.

I didn’t have any intention of taking my amateurs licence out this season but Turlough mentioned to me that he would have one or two spare rides the odd time, if I wanted to ride them, so I said I’d give it a shot and see how I get on.

I have had six rides since then, all of which have completed their races and obviously I had the winner on Saturday, so it’s been great!

Can you tell me about one of your earliest racing memories?

My very first ride was at Bellowstown for Christy Roche and that has to be one of my earliest racing memories. I finished fourth that same day, I was going down the back and I saw a horse coming up alongside me and it was Paul Carberry on him, I remember thinking how stylish his riding was when he was galloped past me. Its always stuck with me.

You were delighted with your win on Sunday on Drawn N Drank?

It was great to get the winner, Irene, and Fergus, who own the horse have been very good to me, so I appreciated the support off them.

What’s the plan with Drawn N Drank now?

They told me that they are actually thinking about retiring him now, he is 14 years of age and has been a good servant to the O’Sullivan’s over the years.

Have you ambitions for this season?

To be honest with you I don’t, I hadn’t even planned on riding in races at the beginning of the season, so I am just taking each day as it comes.

If I got more opportunities, then I would happily take them, but I am just going to wait and see how things go.

What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider’s in point-to-pointing?

The novice rider races are great, but I feel the weight we carry in the novice rider races can sometimes put trainers off running their horses, as we carry so much led in the race, it can be hard on the horses.

If the weights were dropped that would entice more trainers to run their horses in those types of races. It would give young lads more chances on better horses.

How about another rider you think might be up-and-coming?

Brian Dunleavey, who also rode his first winner this season comes in and rides out here at Turlough’s and he could be a rider to watch out for.

Who has been your greatest influence in racing?

When I first started riding out, I was fortunate enough to be able to ride out with a good bunch of lads such as Alan Crowe, Padraig Roche, and Jody McGarvey and they would have been very helpful to me when I first started off.

Do you play any sport outside of racing?

I used to play a bit of soccer and football, but the horses took over and unfortunately, I don’t have time anymore.

How do you relax away from racing?

I don’t really relax away from racing to be honest with you. If I went on holidays, I would be bored in two days, Id want to come home. Id be happier at home riding out in the rain.